Last September 27, 2016, De La Salle University hosted Luzon Lasalle Schools during the "One La Salle Reflection Session on Extra-Judicial Killings (EJK) and Human Rights (HR)" organized by the Lasallian Justice and Peace Commission (LJPC). The session started with an opening prayer lead by Mr. Peter Miles Sollesta and the singing of the National Anthem. Br. Michael J. Broughton FSC, DLSU's Vice President for Lasallian Mission welcomed participants from Luzon schools to the event. De La Salle Philippines (DLSP) President and Auxiliary Brother Visitor, Br. Jose Mari Jimenez FSC, then shared his appreciation and support for the community's efforts in raising awareness on EJK and HR. Read: Pastoral Letter Against the Culture of Death Related: University Student Government's Manifesto on the Marcos Burial Justice System is Key Atty. Jose Manuel "Chel" Diokno, Dean of DLSU's College of Law, then spoke next on the topic "Martial Law, Extra-Judicial Killings and Human Rights." During his presentation, Atty. Diokno drew many parallels between our current situation and the situation during the dark years of Marcos dictatorship where human rights were also wrongfully blamed for the ills of the country and where fear and violence were also used to enforce the law. He emphasized instead that it is the deplorable state of our justice system that is causing the proliferation of drug syndicates and corrupt politicians in our country. He decried that taking the law into one's hands, through extra-judicial killing, does not address the problem but only makes matters worse. "The key to stopping crime and corruption is to have a justice system that works the way it is is meant to work." Disconnect Between Faith and Action Like Atty. Diokno, Br. Michael Valenzuela FSC, Member of the Board of Trustees of De La Salle College of St. Benilde, also shared his personal account of the Martial Law Years. He then presented the seeming disconnect between people's faith and their responses to EJK. To address this, Br. Valenzuela shared how Catholic Social Teaching (CST) could provide Lasallians with a framework that could help bridge this gap. CST, he adds, is not only for the Catholic. The framing of the United Nations' Universal Declaration on Human Rights (UDHR), a secular document, was in fact highly influenced by it. Watch: Reflection Session on EJK and Martial Law (37:02) Read: The Universal Declaration on Human Rights "There is a disconnection between our faith The session ended with the closing message of DLSP Lasallian Mission Services (LMS) Director, Ms. Grace Lazo and a noise barrage held along Taft Avenue. (Click image and watch the video: "While we resonate with our government's desire to…") Center for Social Concern and Action
2nd Floor, Br. Connon Hall, 2401 Taft Avenue, Manila Telefax: (632) 523-4143
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |